Eons ago, predating the 1st and 2nd centuries of the Common Era, a group of dedicated monk-artists gathered in present-day Gharapuri off coastal Bombay. They carved the devotion of their hearts in the caves, the remains of which are still visited by thousands of Shaivites and non-Shaivites to this day.
The painting that you see on this page is a rendition in oil of the Elephanta Nataraja located in Gharapuri. The limbs of the dancing Lord have disintegrated into nothingness. Yet, owing to the sheer expressiveness of sculpture, one could make out the stance and mudra of each. The texture of stone, accentuated by the reflection of natural light, has been skilfully reproduced by the painter.
In the foreground, a Shaivite sadhu seated in dhyana. Clad in a brocade robe, ash and vermillion smeared on his brow. The substantial figure of Nataraja looms over the ascetic devotee.
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